Article assembling apparatus



July 18, 1950 E. BERTALAN ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS 5 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1946 //Vl ENTOR E. BER7ALAN A T TORNEY y 8, 1950 E. BERTALAN 2,515,487

ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

M/VENTOR E. BER TALAN ATTORNEY July 18, 1950 E. BERTALAN ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1950 E. BERTALAN 2,515,487

ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed. July 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 9

9 a & o 5 HJ a o {1 \{2 INVENTOR EBERTALA/V 8, 1950 E. BERTALAN 2,515,487

ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS y ATTORNEY Patented July 18, 1950 2,515,487 ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Edward Bertalan, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 11, 1946,-Serial No. 682,809

coaxially of the central conductor by means or wafer-like insulating discs uniformly spaced on the central conductor. One problem encountered in manufacturing this type of coaxial unit is the provision of suitable apparatus for applying the wafer-like insulating discs uniformly on the central conductor as it is advanced through a forming machine. In addition, the kind of material from which the insulating discs are made further complicates the development of suitable disc applying apparatus.

It has been suggested heretofore that insulating discs used in the manufacture o'fcoaxial cable units be made of a suitable stiff material,

such as hard rubber, or from a plastic, such as polystyrene. In the case of hard rubber it was found that centrally perforated, radially slotted discs could readily be punched from strips thereof and snapped on the central conductor quite successfully, whereas pre-slotted discs made from polystyrene could not be snapped on the central conductor without breaking the discs due to the brittle nature of the material. Because of the relatively poor electrical characteristics of hard rubber and the manufacturing difficulties involved in using polystyrene, the insulating discs .generally used in the manufacture of coaxial cables are made of the plastic known as polyethylene.

As its name implies, polyethylene is obtained by polymerizing ethylene. The usual commercial form of polyethylene is a moderately soft, pliable material having a high molecular weight and possessing excellent electrical insulating characteristics. Polyethylene is sufficiently hard to permit insulating discs made therefrom to maintain their shapes-under ordinary circumstances, but it is soft enough to cause some manufacturing dimculties to arise when attempts were made to make slotted discs by punching them from strips thereof.

9 Claims. (Cl; 29203) Furthermore, when slotted discs of the type formerly made of hard rubber were made of polyethylene and were forced upon a central conductor, the sides of the slots occasionally were deformed by the passage of the conductor therethrough. As a result, the discs would not adhere firmly to the central conductor and would tend to slide along the conductor or might even come 01f the conductor. In addition, it is relatively easy to force such pro-slotted discs oi the conductor by a thrust applied on the sides of the discs opposite the slots and substantially longitudinally of the conductor, because the small amount of wall surface remaining in the central aperture of the radially slotted discs against which the conductor presses does not possess enough sheer strength to hold the discs in place. Consequently, coaxial cable units could not be satisfactorily manufactured by using discs made of polyethylene which had been preslotted and then forced on the central conductor.

In order to overcome these manufacturing difficulties, it was necessary to provide suitable means for cutting radial, line-like slits in annular polyethylene insulating discs, means for holding the slits open so that the central conductor may be passed therethrough into the central aperture without damaging the forward corners and sides of the slits, and means for applying the slitted discs to a central conductor with a wiping motion. It is evident that by cutting a line-like radial slit from the center aperture to the periphery of the disc, no material is removed from the disc. 'By virtue of this fact, the entire wall surface of the center aperture of the disc is preserved, and when such radially slit discs are in position on a central conductor, they will readily withstand considerable thrust applied on the sides of the disc adjacent to the slit. Furthermore, discs so applied to a central conductor adhere more forcibly thereto because the natural resiliency thereof causes the sides of the radial slit to close together, whereby the conductor is firmly gripped by the walls of the center aperture and is also engaged by a substantially solid ring of insulating material.

The present invention makes it entirely practical to use soft and pliable insulating discs in the manufacture of coaxial cable units .by providing a coordinated apparatus for radially slitting the discs and thereafter applying them on a continuously moving conductor with a wiping motion in one operation.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved article assembling apparatus.

in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, as applied to the application of insulating discs on a continuously moving conductor of a coaxial unit, there is provided a reciprocating disc applying apparatus including a reciprocably mounted slide which is reciprocated parallel to and in timedrelationlwiththe continuously advancing conductor andsubstantially faster in a direction opposite to that in which the conductor is moving. A platen is movablyg positioned on the slide and has oscillatory means positioned thereon for receiving-centrallyperfo rated insulating discs, slitting thediscs radially and simultaneously applying the, discs. in. prede.-. termined uniform spaced relation onlthe advance. ing conductor.

A clear understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description ,of.

.position ofv some of the parts fatv the. beginning.

of a disc-applying. stroke;

Fig. 4 .is a vertical section, taken. along line,

4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 .is a. plan view ofthe apparatuswith parts brokenaway, showing the parts .in their full. operated position;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the apparatusshowing certain members at the, end of their discapplying stroke;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, plan View of, ,a portion of the apparatus showing the position of a trip ping means at the end. of{ thedisc-applying stroke;

Fig. '8.is :an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view ofa portion of the apparatus showing. anoscillatory I disc carrier and ,its associated .dijscslitting. knife;

Fig. 9. is. an. enlarged, fragmentary, sectional viewtaken along line 91-9 of Fig. 8;'

Fig, 10, is .an enlargeiperspective view of..a knife used for radially slittin g lthe. discs;

Fig. 11 isan enlarged, perspectiveview, of a shortlength of, ,a central conductor with. slitted discs assembled thereon by means ofthediscapplying apparatusof this inventionand showing an outer tubular conductor surrounding the discs;

Fig. 12.is an. enlarged, fragmentary sectiQnal viewtakenalong line I2-I2, ofFi r 1;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged View of a typicalhing-ed joint provided on articulated. disc feedchutes forming apart of the apparatus;

Fig. 14. is a right hand verticalview of the hinged joint shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is afragmentary, sectional view taken along line l5.-l5 of Fig. 2,.and

Fig. 16 is adiagram showing how discs are placed upona conductor by apparatus embodying. the. invention.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Fig 1 there is shown a disc-applying apparatus, which is designedtoassemble centrally, perforated, annular,. insulating discs 201-20 atpredetermined, uniformly spaced intervals on a central conductor 2| being continuously advanced longitudinally above the disc-applying apparatus. The conductor 2i is advanced at a constant rate of speed in the direction of the arrows (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) from a supply (not shown). The insulating discs 20-20 are fed from a pair of hoppers 22-22 positioned abovethe apparatus, through a pair ofarticulatedfeed chutes. 23-23; and the apparatus serves to radially slit the discs and apply them uniformly on the central conductor in such a manner that alternate discs are arranged with their slits-diametrically opposite one another, as shown in Fig. 11.

Thecentralconductor 2| with the discs assembled thereon'is advanced through a forming die indicated in general at 24, which serves to form a-metallic-strip 25 made of copper, or the like, into a tubular outer conductor 26 around the insulating discs 20-40. The conductor, insulating discsand tubularconductor comprise the cable assemblagebeing advanced at a predetermined rate of speed bya capstan 21 "and takenup by-suita-ble means (notshown). Adetailed descriptionof the die and the takeup means will not be given, since'a further descriptionthereof is not-necessary for 'a' complete understanding of ."the invention;

Referring now 1' to Figs. 2 and 3 "of "the drawings-,-it"will-be notedthatthe di$0=applying apparatus comprises a-base member 30having a pair of-spaced'vertical supports 3 l*-'-3l between which a pair'of-parallel;horizontal guide-bars 32-32*are rigidly mounted-r Aslide 33"'is' slidably'mounted onth'e guide'-bars"32"32' by meansof a pair of. horizontal ,bores- 34"34" provided therein; The-slide 33 isprovided'with a' bore 35 near eacl -corner thereof; each-bore having a self-lubricating bushing 38"-rigi dly-fixed therein. Each-0f-the bushings 366 -36 "has slidablypositionedthereina post -31 having the upper ends thereof secured to a boss 40 provided on the underside of a platen '4 It The lower-endsof the posts'3l -3 l'projectthrough'the slide33- and have springs -42"--42 positionedthereover "and maintained thereon bymeans of collars 4 3 -43 "pinned onthe lower ends of the posts; This" arrangement' permits-vertical movement of the platen 4 twith-respect to thia slide-33 "against the action of thesprings-4L4 2; 4

A' left-hand-disc carrier i5"ispositioned "on the top side of the platen' H and-"is rigidlysecured-to: a" shaft 46 'rotatably mounted in vertically' aligned bores '4-|-and'-48(Fi'g.-- 2) provided in-- the platen" 41* and a-- supporting plate 50'; respectively. The plate. 50 isg'securedto the.un--

is provided. witha shoulder. 58.;which,, together.

witha hubj fifl'jprovided jon'.,the gear. 54,,serves. to. maintain thev gear 54 inhorizontal alignment with. the... pinion .53...

The lower end. 61 of..the.shaft.55 which is positionedinthebore.5.1.projects below the plate F ll-and. is. provided with .a vertical slot .62,.to,- re,. ceive one endof atorsion spring .63.. The-other,- end .of. the torsion spring .63 is. secured to a .hous

7,6. ing 64 rigidly fixed to themunderside of the plate 50 by a plurality of screws 65-65. The torsion spring 63 serves to apply sufiicient torque on the shaft 55 in a counterclockwise direction to maintain a gear actuating arm 66 keyed on the shaft 55 against a stop pin 61 secured to the platen 4| and projecting therebelow.

A right hand disc carrier 10 is positioned on the top of the platen 4| a predetermined distance to the right of the left hand disc carrier 45 and on the opposite side of the advancing conductor 2|. The disc carrier is secured to a shaft H rotatably mounted in the platen 4| and the plate 50 in substantially the same manner as is the shaft 46, and also has a pinion 72 secured thereon in engagement with the gear 54. The disc carriers 45 and HI are maintained in the positions shown in Fig. 3 by means of the torsion spring 63 which maintains the arm 66 against the pin 51. Since the discs 20-20 must be uniformly spaced on the conductor 2| by the disc-applying apparatus, the disc carriers 45 and 70 are spaced on the platen 4| so that they will simultaneously assemble two insulating discs 2il-2El'0n the conductor 2| and leave a space therebetween equal to the spacing between four discs or, in other words, sufficient space is provided therebetween for the equal spacing of two more discs.

An oscillatory, backing-up member 13 is positioned on the top of the platen 4| adjacent to the left hand disc carrier 45 and on the opposite side of the advancing conductor 2| (Fig. 3). The member l3 is secured to a shaft '14 rotatably mounted in the platen 4| and the plate 5|] in sub stantially the same manner as is the disc carrier shaft 46, and also has a pinion secured thereon which engages the gear 54. A similar oscillatory backing-up member 75 is positioned on the platen il adjacent to the right hand disc carrier ill and on opposite side of the conductor 2 l. The member 75 is secured to a shaft 'l'l rotatably mounted in the platen and plate in substantially the same manner as is the shaft H, and has a pinion 18 secured thereon which engages the gear 54. The backing-up members 13 and 16 are maintained in their positions shown in Fig. 3 in the same manner as that described for the disc carriers 45 and "ill. Since the gear 54 is in engagement with the pinions 53, l2, l5 and 18, any movement of the arm 55 in a clockwise direction away from the stop 57 serves to simultaneously turn the pinions and their respective disc carriers and backing-up members in a counterclockwise direction.

Since the disc carriers 45 and T0 are identical in construction and operation, but merely reversed as to their position with respect to the conductor 2|, the following descriptionapplies equally to both of them although directed specifically to the disc carrier 45. Referring to Fig. 8, it will benoted that the disc carrier 45 is provided with a radial disc engaging shoulder 8|] formed by an arcuate portion 8| having an arcuate groove 82 cut in the periphery thereof and communicating with the shoulder 8|]. The radial shoulder 80 is provided on the disc carriers 45 and "In to engage annular, insulating discs -20 positioned thereagainst by means presently to be described, and to carry said discs through an arcuate path so as to assemble the disc on the conductor 2| when said disc carriers are turned in one direction by actuation of the arm 65. The groove 82 cut in r The backing-up members 13 and 16 have configurations identical with that of the disc carrier 45 and are turned in exactly the same manner asthe disc carrier 45. The corresponding shoulders -80 formed'on the backing-up members 13 and 15, which are turned simultaneously with the disc carriers 45 and 10, provide stops against which the discs are directed when the disc carriers are fully actuated by the arm 55.

Knives 83 and 84 are positioned on the top of the platen 4|, adjacent to the disc carriers 45 and Hi, respectively. Since the knives 83 and 84 are identical in construction, but oppositely disposed, a detailed description will be given 'of only the knife 83 positioned adjacent to the carrier 45 (Figs. 2 and 8). The knife 83 is provided with a body portion 85 having a pair of bores 86-86 therethrough for receiving bolts 81-81 which secures the knife to the platen 4|. A hardened steel knife blade at is secured to a tapered face 9| provided in one end of the body portion 85, which blade gradually tapers from a very sharp cutting edge 92 to a substantially thicker back edge 93. The body portion 85 of the knife 83 is provided with a vertical shoulder 94 which is at a right angle to the cutting edge 92 and extends therefrom to a point substantially in line with the shoulder Bil provided on the adjacent disc carrier.

Each of the knives 83 and 84 is positioned on the platen 4| so that their respective cutting edges 92-92 are adjacent to the disc engaging shoulders til-8B provided on their respective disc carriers. The cutting edge 92 of the blade is spaced from the shoulder 80 so as to permit an insulating disc 20 to be positioned therebetween when the disc carriers are in their normal disc receiving positions, and is horizontally aligned with the arcuate groove 82 provided in the disc carriers. The groove 82 permits the disc engaging shoulder ill to be moved past the knife blade 9|! from the cutting edge thereof to a transverse position with respect to the conductor 2|, whereby a disc engaged thereby is thrust against the cutting edge 92 which cuts a radial line-like slit in the disc from the central aperture to its periphery. As the disc 29 is carried over the knife blade 9?] by the disc carrier, the slit is gradually spread apart until it reaches the back edge 93, at which point the slit is now spread sufficiently so that the carrier may assemble it on the adjacent conductor 2! with a wiping motion. The end of the knife blade fill is shaped to conform with the arcuate path travelled by discs over the blade, for the purpose of maintaining the slit open until the central aperture of the disc is practically in a position to be engaged by the conductor 2 I. By holding the slit open as long as possible, the amount of contact between the conductor and the sides of the slit is minimized and prevents the ends of the slit previously cut in the disc from being thrust against the conductor and from being damaged or deformed thereby.

Also positioned on the top of the platen 4| are the bottom sections 35-95 of the articulated feed chutes 23-23, each of which is provided with a T-shaped slot 96 which directs the discs 20-23 from the hoppers 22-22 to the disc engaging shoulders 80-80 of the disc carriers #55 and 70. Each bottom section 95 has its T-shaped slot 96 directly aligned with the shoulder 8i] of its respective disc carrier (Fig. 8) and is rigidly secured to a spacer block 91 by an L-shaped support 98 so that a sliding fit is obtained between the bottom 99 of each chute 95 and the arcuate portion 8| of the respective disc carriers 45 and 10 (Fig. 4). The arcuate portion BI provided on illiihfilclf lltfisiafiwaiafi ec rri rsa umcclin a counterclockwis :direc ign by-lactuatic c the gearlannitfi. fllbashculder 84. prcvidedon t .bodyvof each knifecfls andzfill (Ems) erves to maintain .a :disc in proper ccsitionraeai s he sh uld r Bflcfits resn ctirediscca disc-:hasdtODQQd.11 41 3 bet een, th shqulsi andthe-cnttingLed es .01.? th bla ecsll- The tapered; .face- 9.1, which .ccmectswith the s ou der 5.5;,$rllS.1 Q:g'-l;l d 1 hQ d sc ll a rqsstheukni :blade v90 when the disc carrier 45, is. turned in a counterc ockwise d recticnby a clockw s mov of the arm 5- [EA-4 rec an lar 7 plate I 0 .is mounted di ectly under 3611 26159.find-.1 spaced: th re om by meanslof sp in s 01- 0! surroun in c t 102-1102; th eadedb': sec red i v rtical :DQSfi' iQ attire..- c rne s o I he;.-n t ,v i010- u pe e of, each ost. 10.2.is id b yp i ione i a v tically; aligncdbcr 03l-p edi the p at 5 andihas .a .pair .Q ut 0 l thrsfldcd y muted ther cn for the u o e o ad us t: lspacin wbetw en th mat Wand th plat I00 a a ns utheact on.c h spr n s w -I0! .(Eissand 6). :Ther I .,-P10 =Wi h a central boss I05 so as to provide a substantially h GK -ITQ s c iQnvther tf a central, o lflcandiacounterbore 01- .Ih oun e b I -is.provided to receive a conventional thrust hearin .llflros one :on .anup e III -and e a d b asho der I I2 formed n a mova cam follower II3. .That portion-of the upper :end HI ;;-not. engage d by the bearing H0 is journalied;inthe bore I06 'of the plate I00. A

substan ia p tio f .thel w nd of the: cam follow r U3. is. slida ly mount d. n a e r ubr eating. bushing- I I 5 secured ina vertically aligned bore; I I6 provided inathe slide 33. The extreme lowenend of thegcam follower H3 is slotted to r afte th form apai .of-spac d ar ll1 Il1 t en which a roller II8 is rotatably mounted by mean of .avpin' I I9 (Figsz and 4).

:The roller H8 is resiliently main ine =.by the-.smings- -AZ a a ns h peri hery of a camil25 which vcam is key d tea sha I26 rotatably mounted .in apairof outboard bear- ;irlgs I2;1--I21 (Fig. 2) secured tothebaseiihand in a bearing ,I28 4provided in the right handsupportl3l. Abarrel-cam I33 (Figs. 2 and'6) also is :keyed to the shaft 126 and has provided around its periphery an irregularly shapedcam ,track I3I, w.hich begins at a left hand reversing point. I 32, proceeds spirally in a counterclockwise direction aroundsubstantially twosthirds of the periphery of the cam I to. a right hand reversing point I3.3,.and then returnsto the left hand reversing point I32. A cam follower I35 is rotate ably mounted on stheend of a flangedstud I36 rigidly securedon the underside of the right hand end of the. slide; 33 (Figs; and 6), and ridesin the-camtrack I3I. The right hand end of the shaft I26 extends v hrough the-supportjl and'has a gear I31 positionedthereon, which engages a gearv I38 secured on .theoutput. shaft ofgasuitable gear reducer I40. The r gear reducer I40 hasa sprocket I4I secured to its input shaftwhichds. encased by oll r cha n "2m nected to suitable ,driving means (not shown rwhenppower; is supplied to. the inputshaft of the gear reducer I40,.it.-serves.to drivethe shaft 126.,in1a counterclockwise direction as viewed ins-Fi .1 e, wh reby t track: I 3 I (of thebbarrel cami. I=30...acting.;a againstzrthe,--r fol lower 1 I 35 ;,posiandtheassociated parts; to the right until the foL- l wer 13. e ch rich ha r v rs ng o n 13 {When th r v r i poi 3 i passed. cam track I3I and the follower I35 move the slide 33 and parts carried thereby to the left until the reversing point I32 is engaged by the follower. The barrel cam I30 is designed so, that one. complete revolution thereof will cause one complete reciprocation of the slide 33 and is driven at such a rate of speed by the reducer I40 that it will drive the slide from left to right at the same rate of speed as that travelled by the conductor 2| being advanced by the capstan 21 (Fig. 1) and from right to left at approximately three. times the rate of speed at which it travelled from left to right.

Aspring biased latch I60 is pivotally mounted on a stud I6I threadedly mounted on a block I62 secured to a post I63 slidably positioned in an elongated bore I64 provided in a boss I65 secured on the base 30. The block I62 is provided with a longitudinal groove I66 in the inner face thereof which is slidably engaged by the forward end of the plate 50, whereby the latch I60 is maintained in horizontal alignment at all times with the gear actuating arm 66. A spring I68 is positioned under the head of the stud I6I and serves to maintain a leg I10 of the latch I60 against a stop pin I1 I and a leg I12 thereof in the path of travel of the arm 66. When the barrel cam I30 causes the s1ide33 to carry the arm 66, together with its associatedparts to the right, a tapered end I13 provided on the arm 66 engages the leg I12 of the latch I60 which, being secured to the non-recipro- Gating block I62, urges the arm 66 in a clockwise direction until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 5.

As the arm 66 is carried past the latch I60 by the movement of the slide 33, a spring pressed tripping lever I14 is being carried by the platen 4| toward the leg I10 of the latch I60. The tripping lever I14 is pivotally mounted on a pin I15 threadedly secured to an arm I16 secured on the topof the platen 4I (Fig. 4). The lever I14 has an oblique end I11 providedthereon which is maintained against a flange I18 provided on the end of the arm I16 by a compression spring I19 positioned between the flange I10 and the end of the lever I14 (Figs. 2, 5 and 7). The lever I14, when moving to the right with the slide 33 and the platen, engages the leg I10 of the latch I60 and rotates the latch about the stud I6I against the action of the return spring I68, whereby the leg I12 is, disengaged from the end I13 of the arm66. Fig. 7 shows the position of the latch I60 with respect to the lever I14 and the gear actuating arm 66 at the end o the right handstroke of theslide 33.

h cam 15 ed to t e sha t I26 is a s b i driven thereby in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4; and is designed to raise and lower the platen, 4| in timed relation with the reciprocation, of the slide 33 by the barrel cam I30. The cam I25is provided with a short arcuate portion I80, an ascending portion I8I, a longer arcuate portion 162 and a descending portion I 33. The cam I25. isso positioned on the shaft I26that when the follower I35 engages the left hand reversing point I32 of the cam track I3I,the cam follower roller II8 is positioned at the beginning of;- the arcuate portion I82 (Fig. 4) The arcuate portion I82 of thecam I25 and the descending portion I83 thereof correspond to that portion of the track I3I of the cam I30 which drives the tlonedlthereon .drivestheslide 33,-.tbe-platen 4| 7 $1id -3 -to-the right. The arcuate portion I oi.

9 the cam 25 and the ascending portion |8| thereof correspond to that portion of the track |3I which drives the slide 33 to the left.

The arcuate portion I80 of the cam I25 controls the lowermost position of the platen 4 I, since the springs 42-42 constantly urge the platen 4| downwardly and cause the cam follower roller I I8 to engage the periphery of the cam I25. The uppermost position of the platen is controlled by the arcuate portion I 82 and by a pair of stop posts I85-IB5 (Figs. 2 and 4) threadedly secured on the top side of the slide 33 and at opposite ends thereof. Each of the posts I85-I 85 slidably engage a vertically aligned bore I86 provided in the platen M and has a pair of stop nuts Nil-I81 threadedly mounted on the upper end which projects above the top of the platen. The stop nuts IBI-IB1 are so positioned on the posts I85-I85 that when the platen is raised to its uppermost position, the arcuate portion 82 of the cam I25, it abuts the nuts |8'|-I8|. When the platen 4| is maintained in this position, the peripheral grooves 82-82 provided in the disc carriers 45 and I and their respective backing-up cams I3 and (6 are centrally aligned with the conductor 2| being longitudinally advanced above the platen.

When the arcuate portion I82 of the cam I25 engages the roller I I8 mounted on the end of the cam follower II3, it urges the follower H3 and the plate I61! upwardly, which upward movement is transferred to the plate 5!! and the platen 4| through the springs I02-I02. The compression springs I(i2-I|l2 are substantially stronger than the compression springs 42-42 and therefore when the arcuate portion I82 urges the plate I00 upwardly, the springs 42-42 are compressed while the springs I 02-Ill2 remain unaffected and transfer the upward movement to the platen 4|. After the platen 4| has been elevated so that the top side thereof abuts the stop nuts IB'I-IB'I, further upward travel of the platen is prevented, and any additional upward travel of the cam follower and plate caused by the arcuate portion M32 is now taken up by the stronger compression springs IllZ-IM provided between the plate IM and the plate 50.

The springs 42-42 and "DZ-I52 operate in the reverse order when the slide 33 and the parts carried thereby reach the end of the right hand stroke and the roller I I8 travels along the descending portion I83 of the cam I25. Now the springs Ill2-IU2 urge the plate I00 downwardly until the stop nuts IU4-IM engage the upper surface of the stationar plate 55 and thereafter the springs 42-42 urge the platen 4| downwardly and cause the roller III! to follow the contour of the descending periphery I83 of the cam I25.

A support I2!) is rigidly secured on the top of the left hand support SI and is provided with a pair of spaced ears I9I-I9I between which a roller m2 is rotatably mounted by means of a pin I93 secured in the ears I9I-I9I. The roller I52 is provided with a V-shaped peripheral groove 924 which engages the central conductor 2| as it is being advanced longitudinally above the platen i! and coacts with the outer conductor forming die 24 to maintain the conductor 2| in horizontal alignment with the platen and disc carriers. The Vshaped groove I94 of the roller I92 also serves to properly position the advancing conductor i2 between the disc carriers 45 and i0 and to support it against lateral movement when discs are being applied thereby on the central conductor 2|.

The centrally perforated, annular discs 20-25 which are to be assembled on the conductor 2| are dumped in sufficient quantities in the hoppers.

scription applies to both units, although specifically directed to the left hand unit.

Each hopper 22 is rigidly secured in place above the disc-applying apparatus by a standard I99 and comprises a rectangular housing 200 (Figs. 1 and 12) having sloping bottom sections 20 I-2IlI which converge toward the center of the housing 20!] and have legs 202-252 formed vertically thereon, so as to leave a longitudinal slot 203 in the extreme bottom of the housing. Secured on the right hand end of the vertical legs 202-202 are a pair of spaced supports 254-204 between which are pivotally mounted brackets 205-205 by means of a pin 205. The brackets 205-205 join together a fan-shaped disc pickup arm 201 and a top feed chute section 208 so that the bottom of a longitudinal groove 2|!) provided in the upper edge of the arm 20'! (Figs. 1 and 12) is aligned with the T-shaped slot 96 provided in the chute section 258. A sliding fit is provided between the arm 20? and the wall of the slot 203 formed by the legs 202-222 so that discs will not fall out of the hopper between the arm 20'! and the tapered bottom of the housing 200.

The chute section 258 is the top section of the articulated feed chute 23 and is joined by means of a hinge 2|I to one end of an intermediate chute section 2I2 also having a T-shaped slot 96 provided therein. The other end of the chute section 2|2 is hingedly connected at 2|3 to the upper end of the chute section secured on the platen 4| directly over the disc carrier 45.

The hinged joints 2H and 2|3 between the chute sections 95, 208 and 2I2 permit the platen 4| to be reciprocated and still receive discs from the stationary hopper 22. The reciprocation of the platen 4| together with the raising and lowering movement thereof combine to raise and lower the disc pickup arm 201 within the housing 205. As the arm 201 moves upwardly through a mass of discs placed in the hopper 22, a plurality of discs fall into the groove 2|0 and roll along the bottom thereof into the T-shaped slot 96 provided in the chute section 201 and thence into the T-shaped slots 96-96 provided in the chute sections 2 I 2 and 95, respectively.

The hinged joints 2 and 2I3 of the articulated chute 23 are constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 13. Each joint has a fiat spring 2 5 secured in the T-slot so as to close the T-slots at the joint. The fiat spring 2|6 is positioned in an undercut portion 2I'| provided in the outer edge of the T-slot of each chute section adjacent to a hinged joint and has only one end thereof secured at each hinged joint by a pair of rivets 2 iii-2 I8, so that the other end thereof is free to slide in the undercut portion as the movement of the corresponding joint requires.

Operation The above-described apparatus operates as follows:

It will be assumed that the slide 33, the platen 4| and the parts carried thereby are positioned at the beginning of a disc-applying stroke, as shown in Fig. 2, in which case the follower I35 is positioned in the cam track I3| at the left hand reversing point I32, and the beginning of the arcuate portion I82 of the cam I25 engages the cam follower roller II81so that the platen. is elevated. to its uppermost position against the stop nuts I8'I-I8'I. Thebarreljcam I38iandjthe cam I25 are being rotatedina counterclockwise direction, as seen in.Fig..4,.by suitable-power supply (not shown) through the gear reducer, I40. so that the rate. of rotation of:the.'barrel.cam issuch that the camtrackil3l will'drivethe slide'33 to the rightat the samerate of speed. as that-at which the capstan2l isadvancing the conductor 2! :to the'right abovethe platen4l. Asthe bare rel. cam I30 drives the slide 33. to the-rightin timed .relation with the advancing. conductor 2 I, thetapered end, I13 of the gear. actuating arm 66 engages the leg I'IZ .of thespr-ing biased latch I69 mounted on the non-reciprocating, support I52 and the arm 66 is moved-by thelegI'IZin a clockwise direction against the action of the torsion spring. 63- secured. onv the. endofthe. gear shaft 55.

This movement of thearm 68 turns the gear 54in a clockwise direction, which in .turnsimule taneouslyrotatesthe pinions. 53, 12, I5. and I8 secured to theshafts H5,v II, 14 and 1], respec-. tively, onwhich are mounted the disc carriers 45 and I and the backing-up members. I3 and,16, respectively.- When the disc carriers 45. and .15 are so rotated in. one direction, their. respective shoulders 8IJ80- engage and-carry with-it one of the centrally perforatedcircular discs 2ll--2ll fed from the hoppers 2222-through thearticulated feed chutes 2.323. Each, disc. carrier thrusts a disc engaged thereby against-the cutting edge-92of its'companionknife-:blade 90, whereby a radial, line-like slit is out in thedisc. Asthe slide-331cointinues to-travel past the latch I60 and further actuatesthe arm 86, thediscs are carried over the knife blade-90 by the-disc carriers, the slit'ineach discis held open by the knife blade and spread zsuflicientlyby-the-back edge 93 thereof so that the disc car-rierszmayslide the discs on'the conductor 2I-by -means-.of the slits with a wiping motiom Each .disc' is; carried by the carrier until "it iszplaced inratransverse position on the conductor, in-whichz position it abuts the shoulder 88 provided Onitszadjacent backing-up member *which is rotated jsimultanee ously with its respectivedisc carrier;v

When the slide 33'has completed: a substantial portion .of itsright hand. stroke; as shown in Fig. 5, the arm 66.-has. been'fullyactuated. to cause the disc carriers to oscillate-90" andtto apply-the insulating discs. 20i20engaged" thereby transversely On the central conductor 2|. Also. the tripping lever" Il4= carriedby the arm. I15 secured on the movingrplaten M has engaged the leg I of the latch I65. androtatediitzabout the stud I6! to a point where it'is practically disengaged fromthe tapered lend. II3 of .the arm 881 A very slight -'further'movement of'the arm I'M-to the right'rotates the latch IM to a position-where the leg- I12 is completely withdrawn from the path ofthe end I73"ofth'e arm 65, whereupon the -arm 66 is instantly'returned to its normal positionagain-st the pin II by the action of the torsion spring 63. The torsion spring 63 rotates the gear 54in a counterclockwise direction .and thereby. turns the. disc carriers. 45 and I0; together with their backing-up members l3 and 16', -backto their normal disc receiving positions leaving the discs previously carried thereby positioned on the. conductor. 2 I.

A small portion ofthe remainder of the right hand or disc-applying stroke of the. slide 33 is allotted for the purpose of allowing thetorsion the previous right hand stroke.

spring 63 sufficient time to completely return the disc carriers and backing-up cams to their normal disc receiving positions. By the time the disccarriers 45'and 'IOhave returned to their respective disc receiving positions (Fig. 3'), the cam I25-'h'as been rotated to the extent that the roller! I8 of the cam follower 3 has travelled completely across the arcuate portion I82 and now engages the descending periphery I83 of the cam As the slide 33 proceeds to the end of the stroke, the cam I25 is further rotated and the roller-I18 reaches the beginning of the arcuate portion, I81 whereupon the platen AI and disc carriers 45 and 'IOare fully lowered to a Point where the tops of the disc carriers are substantially below the periphery of the discs previously assembled'on the conductor. The slide 33 had then reached the end of its right hand stroke because the cam' follower I35 reached the right hand reversing point 'I33 (Fig. 6).

During that portionof the revolution ofthe barrel, cam. I38 which drives the slide 33 from left to right, the roller II 8 of the cam follower II3 will assume a. diagonal position with respect .to the longitudinal axis of the cam I25 and the slide 33. This is due to the fact that the cam I25 is rotating about its axis while the slide 33, together with the cam follower H3, is moving along its longitudinal axis either from left to right or vice versa, so, that the resultant effect of the rotary, movement and the longitudinal movement causes the roller M8 to assume a diagonal position.with ,respectto the longitudinal axis ,of the cam I25. The thrust bearing H8 provided in the plate I00 permits the cam follower H3 and its roller II8 to swivel to the proper. angle whereby, a minimum amount of drag of. the. roller II8 across the periphery of the cam I25 is assured.

Theslide 33 and the platen M are .now in position to be returned to the left to their normal starting. position without interfering withthe discsiust assembled on the conductor during the right hand stroke of the slide. Further rotation of the .cam I30 causes the cam follower I35 to move toward the reversing point.I32,,whereby the slide .33.is driven tov the left., When the slide, 33 has completed a, substantial portion of its left hand stroke, the cam I25'has rotatedso as to bring the ascending periphery I82 into engagement with the roller I I8, whereby it starts to elevate the platen 4|. When the cam follower I35 reaches the left hand reversing point I32, the slide 33 has fully completed its left hand stroke, at which time the cam I25 has rotated so as to bring the beginning of the arcuate portion I82 into. engagement with the cam follower roller II8 which again elevates the platen 4i andthe disc carriers to their uppermost positions. During the left hand stroke of the slide, 33, the arm 66 carried by the slideengages the leg I12 ofthe latch I60 and urges it in a counterclockwise direction againstthe action ofthe return spring I68 so that the arm 66 may pass by the latch I60 and again assume its starting position to the left of the latch as shown in Fig. 3.

The very instant that the slide 33 begins another right hand stroke in timed relation with the conductor 2|, it again establishes two spaced points thereon at which discs are to be assembled by the disc carriers. The discs are assembled on the conductor 2| by subsequent right hand strokes of theslide 33 in staggered relationship with respect to the discs assembled thereon by This is due to 13 the fact that the portion of the cam track l3l of the barrel cam I30 which drives the slide 33 to the left is approximately only one-third as long as that portion of the track I3! which drives the slide to the right. As a result the slide 33 is driven to the left at a rate of speed substan tially three times greater than that at which it travels on its right hand stroke. In this way the disc assembled on the conductor 2! by the left hand carrier 45 during the previous right hand stroke of the slide travels with the con-' be assumed that the conductor 2| is moving constantly to the right, as seen in Fig. l, at a rate of 16 feet per minute, that it is desired to space the discs 1%" apart on the conductor, that the disc carriers 45 and H3 are spaced 3%" apart on the platen or the cumulative space of three discs, and that a disc-applying stroke of 1%" of the slide 33 is required to completely actuate and release the disc carriers and lower the platen. Referring to Fig. 16, the legend Stroke 1 indicates that the two discs adjacent to the ends of the bracket were assembled on the conductor by the first disc-applying or right hand stroke of the apparatus 3%" apart. The disc assembled thereon by the left hand carrier 45 is designated LI and the disc assembled by the right carrier H! is designated Bl Since it is required to space the discs 1%" apart, the next position to be assumed by the right hand carrier H1 is 2%" to the left of disc RI. The left hand stroke of the slide is such that it will absorb 1%" of this distance while the conductor moves to the right Since there is no relative movement between the conductor and the disc carriers during the disc applying strokes, the apparatus will assemble two more discs R2 and L2 on the conductor at the positions established at the termination of the previous left hand stroke as stated above, which positions are indicated by the ends of the bracket marked Stroke 2. Upon the completion of Stroke 3, the discs designated R3 and L3 will have been applied, and the four discs R2, Ll, R3 and L2 are uniformly spaced on the conductor 1%" apart, as shown in Fig. 16. Subsequent to Stroke 3 the apparatus will assemble discs on the conductor in the desired uniform pattern. i

It will be noted that blankspaces will be left between the first two discs and between the last tWo discs of the coaxial unit. Obviously, these ends comprise only a fraction of the total length of a coaxial cable unit, which may be about 1500 feet, or more, long. If desired, the missing discs may be applied in these vacant spaces by a manually operated disc-applying device of the type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 653,884., filed March 12, 1946. Or the ends of the coaxial unit may be cut off.

The disc assembling apparatus outlined hereinabove facilitates the use of the relatively soft plastic material polyethylene in the manufacture of coaxial cables. Since the apparatus disclosed herein merely slits the insulating discs, no material is removed therefrom and such discs when positioned on the conductor adhere thereto with a substantially greater force than it is possible to obtain by slotted discs made from such a soft plastic material. In addition to this feature, discs which are merely slitted and then applied to the conductor form a substantially solid ring around the conductor because the inherent elasticity of the material tends to close the slits made in the discs.

While the insulating discs 20-20 preferably are made of polyethylene, the methods and apparatus embodying the invention may be used equally well to apply discs made of other relatively soft insulating materials to central conductors. For example, the insulating discs may be made of cellulose acetate or mixtures of cellulose acetate and. cellulose butyrate, or may be fabricated from relatively soft products obtained by polymerizing vinyl compounds. such as are obtained by polymerizing vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate or mixtures thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for assembling insulating discs on a continuously moving conductor, which comprises means for continuously advancing a conductor along a predetermined path, areciprocable member arranged to move parallel to the moving conductor, a plurality of disc carriers spacedly positioned on the reciprocable member in spaced relation with respect to each other and the moving conductor, said disc carriers being rotatably mounted on the member to have oscillatory movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the moving conductor, means provided on the member for feeding centrally perforated insulatdiscs in position to be engaged by the disc carriers, each disc carrier being arranged to carry a single disc at a time, means positioned adjacent to each disc carrier for cutting a radial slit from the center perforation to the periphery of the disc-carried thereby, means for reciprocating the reciprocable member so that it travels in unison with the conductor and returns at a substantially faster rate of travel in a direction opposite to that of the advancing conductor, and means for simultaneously actuating the disc carriers through a predetermined portion of one revolution as the reciprocable member is moved in the same direction as the advancing conductor so that a disc engaged by each carrier is carried past the radial slitting means and assembled on the conductor with an arcuate wiping motion.

2. Apparatus for assembling insulating discs on a continuously moving conductor, which compr ses means for advancing a continuous, filamentary conductor along a predetermined path, a reciprocable member positioned parallel to and beneath the moving conductor, a pair of disc carriers spacedly positioned on the reciprocable member longitudinally of and at opposite sides of the moving conductor, means associated with the reciprocable member for positioning centrally perforated insulating discs in position to be engaged by the disc carriers, means adjacent to each disc carrier for cutting a radial slit in the disc carried thereby, said disc carriers being arranged on said member to have an oscillatory movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the moving conductor, means for reciprocating the reciprocable member, means for simultaneously turning the disc carriers in one direction,

through :a predetermined portion of one revolu tiomwhemthereciprocable member is moving in the same direction as the conductor to cause each xdiSO' carrier to pick up an' insulating disc, carry it by the cutting means and position it on themoving conductor with an arcuate wiping: motion, and means associated with the reciprocable member for positioning the disc carriers in horizontal alignment with the advancingconductor when said reciprocable member is moving in the same direction therewith and for retracting the disc carriers after they have assembled discs on the conductor, whereby the reciprocable member may be returned to its starting position without any members striking the discs applied to the conductor.

3. Apparatus for assembling insulating discs on a continuously moving conductor, which comprises means for advancing a filamentary conductor along a predetermined path, a reciprocable member arranged to operate parallel to and beneath the moving conductor, a pair of rotatable disc carriers'spacedly positioned a predetermined distance apart on the reciprocable member so that one carrier is positioned on each side of the conductor, a rotatable backing-up member positioned on the reciprocable member directly opposite each disc carrier, means associated with the reciprocable member for feeding centrally perforated discs. in position to be engaged by the disc carriers, means positioned adjacent to each disc carrier for cutting a radial slit in the disc carried thereby, means for reciprocating the reciprocable member, means for simultaneously turning the disc carriers and the backing-up members, non-reciprocating means associated with the reciprocable member for actuating the means for turning the disc carriers and backing-up members in one direction a predetermined portion of one revolution when the reciprocable member is moving in the same direction as the advancing conductor, said disc carriers and backing-up members being arranged on said member to have an oscillating movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the moving conductor so that when the disc carriers are actuated they apply the disc carried thereby on the conductor with an arcuate wiping motion, and resilient means provided on the reciprocable member for returning the disc carriers and backing-up members to their normal positions on the reciprocable member after they have been turned to apply and back-up respectively, adisc on the conductor.

4. Apparatus for assembling insulating discs on a continuously moving conductor, which comprises means for advancing a filamentary conductor along a predetermined path, a reciproca-ble member positioned parallel to and beneath the moving conductor, a pair of rotatable -disc carriers arranged on said reciprocable member in a predetermined spaced relation longitudinally of and on opposite sides of the moving conductor, said disc carriers being arranged on the reciprocable member to have an oscillatory movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the advancing conductor, means associated with'said member for successively feeding centrally perforated insulating discs in position to be engaged by the disc carriers, resilient-means for maintaining the disc carriers in their normal disc receiving position, means for reciprocating thereciprocable member so that it travels in unison with the conductor and. substantially iaster ina direction opposite to the direction of 16' travel" of. the conductor, means 'for cutting, a ia'dia'l slit in-each disc: as'it is. carried-byits respective disc carrier, a cam oriented with the reciprocating means for aligning the disccarriers with the advancing conductor as the reciprocable member is moved in the same direction asthe conductor and for retracting the. disc carriers before the reciprocable memberis moved in an opposite direction to that of the moving conductor, and means for simultaneously. turning the disccarriers in.one direction througha predetermined portionof-one revolution against the :action of said resilient meansrwhen themember :ismovingin unison with-the conductor to cause the carriers. to pickupdiscs, carry them past the radial .slittingmeans and simultaneously assemble the discs on the conductor with an arcuate wiping motion, whereby whensaid-disc carriers having completely assembled discs on the conductor said resilient means serves to turn the disc carriers in the opposite direction .to their disc receiving positions.

5. Apparatus for assembling insulating discs on a. continuously moving filamentary conductor,

which comprises a reciprocably mounted slidepositioned parallel to and beneath a moving con-w ductor, a vertically movable platen. resiliently mounted onsaid slide-and reciprocable therewith,..means for reciprocating the slide, a pair of rotatable disc carriers spacedly positioned on the .platen so. as to be disposed on opposite sides of the.moving conductor, means for imparting vertical movement to the platenso as to align the disc carriers with the moving conductor as the slide ismoved in unison with the conductor and for retracting the platen before the slide. is moved in-adirectionopposite to that of the conductor, said disc carriers being arranged on the platen to havean oscillatory. movement with respect to the longitudinal axis ofrthe conductor, means provided on the platen for simultaneously turning thedisc carriersnin one direction, non-reciprocating means for actuating the disc carrier turning means through apredetermined portion .of=one revolution when the slide is moving in unison with the conductor to cause each carrier. to apply a disc engaged thereby on the conductor with an arcuate wiping motion, and means secured to the platen and slidably engagingthe non-reciprocating actuating means so as to maintain the said actuating means in horizontal alignment with the disc carrier turning means throughout the reciprocation of the disc carriers.

6. An apparatus for assembling insultingdiscs on .a continuously moving conductor, meansfor advancing the conductor along a predetermined path of travel, which comprises a reciprocably mounted slide arranged to'operate parallel to and beneath the moving conductor, a vertically movableemember resiliently mounted on the slide so that normall it is positioned below the moving conductor, means for reciprocating the slide so that "it travels-in unison with the conductor and returns at a substantially faster rate of-speed in a direction opposite to thatof the moving conductor, a pair of rotatable disccarriers spacedly mounted on the vertically movable member on the opposite sides of the conductor so as to have an oscillatory movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conductor, means associated with the vertically movable member for feeding centrally perforated discs to be engaged by the carriers, said disc carriers arranged to engage a single disc at a time, means positioned adjacent to each disc carrier for radially slitting discs engaged thereby, means for raising the-yer -tically movable member was to alignthe slitting means with the conductor when the slideis posite to that of the moving conductor, and means for simultaneously turning the disc carriers through a predetermined portion of one revolution as the reciprocable member is moved in the same direction as the advancing conductor, whereby when the disc carriers are actuated a disc engaged thereby is carried past the slitting means and assembled on the conductor with an arcuate wiping motion, said slitting means serves to hold open the slits cut in the discs thereby so that the discs carried by the applicator may be assembled by the conductor without damaging the disc.

7. An apparatus for assembling insulating discs on a continuously moving conductor, which comprises means for advancing a filamentary conductor along a predetermined path, a reciprocable member positioned parallel to and beneath the moving conductor, a plate resiliently mounted on top of the reciprocable member and normally spaced below the moving conductor, a pair of disc carriers rotatably mounted on the vertically mounted plate so as to be spaced in predetermined relation on opposite sides of the moving conductor, said disc carriers having a single disc engaging shoulder provided thereon and a groove cut in the periphery thereof so as to communicate with said shoulder, means associated with the resiliently mounted plate for feeding centrally perforated discs in a position to be engaged by the shoulder of each disc carrier, a knife positioned on the plate adjacent to each disc carrier for cutting a radial slit in the disc carried thereby, means for raising the resiliently mounted plate so as to position the back of said knife blade in horizontal alignment with the movable conductor as the slide is moved in unison with the conductor, means for reciprocating the reciprocable member so that the disc carriers move in unison with the conductor and at a substantially faster rate of speed than that of the conductor when moved in a direction opposite to the moving conductor, means for simultaneously turning the disc carriers in one direction through a predetermined portion of one revolution as the reciprocable member is moved in the same dimotion as the advancing conductor, whereby the discs engaged by the radial shoulder of each carrier is carried thereby past the radial slitting means and assembled on the conductor with an arcuate wiping motion in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other.

8. An apparatus for assembling insulated discs on a continuously moving conductor, which comprises means for advancing a filamentary conductor along a predetermined path, a reciprocably mounted slide positioned parallel to and beneath the moving conductor, a vertically movable member resiliently mounted on the slide so as to be positioned normally below the moving conductor, means for reciprocating the slide so that the slide moves in unison with the conductor and at a substantially faster rate of travel when the slide is moved in a direction opposite to that of the moving conductor, a pair of disc carriers rotatably mounted on the vertically movable member so as to be disposed in predetermined spaced relation on opposite sides of the moving conductor, means associated with the vertically movable member for feeding centrally perforated j discs gin position engaged by the disc carriers, a

rier'for cutting radial slit's i'n the disc carried th'ereby,- "ineans for simultaneouslyturing thedisc carriers in one direction through a predetermined portion of one revolution as the reciprocable member is moved in unison with the conductor, and means for elevating the resiliently mounted plate so as to align the back of the cutting knife with the moving conductor so that when the disc carriers are turned the discs engaged thereby are carried across the knife and then applied on the conductor adjacent to the back edge of the knife, said elevating means being arranged to retract the resiliently mounted plate at the end of the disc applying stroke of the resiliently mounted slide so that the slide may be moving in a direction opposite to that of the moving conductor, whereby successive operation of the slide serves to assemble the insulating discs on the moving conductor in uniform spaced relation.

9. An apparatus for assembling insulating discs on a continuously moving conductor, which comprises means for advancing a filamentary conductor along a predetermined path of travel, a reciprocably mounted slide arranged to operate parallel to and beneath the moving conductor, said slide having a cam follower secured to one end thereof, a barrel cam positioned beneath the slide and having a track engaged by said cam follower, said barrel cam serving to reciprocate the slide so that it travels in unison with the conductor but is moved at a substantially faster rate of speed when it is moving in a direction opposite to that of the moving conductor, a vertically movable platen resiliently mounted on the slide and spaced beneath the moving conductor, a pair of disc carriers rotatably mounted on the platen so as to be positioned in predetermined spaced relation longitudinally of and at opposite sides of the moving conductor, means for feeding centrally perforated discs in position to be engaged by the disc carriers, a knife blade provided on the platen adjacent to each disc carrier for cutting a radial slit in discs engaged by the disc carriers, a plate spacedly secured to the under side of the platen, gear and pinion means positioned between the platen and said plate for turning the disc carriers, means provided on the platen for turning the gear and pinion means engaged thereby in one direction, a non-reciprocating latch device positioned adjacent to the resiliently mounted platen for actuating the gear turning means so as to oscillate the disc carriers through a predetermined portion of one revolution when the slide is moving in unison with the advancing conductor, means slidably engaged by the plate for maintaining the non-reciprocating latch in a horizontal alignment with the gear actuating means, means carried by the platen for tripping the latch after it has actuated the disc carrier turning means, and means driven in timed relation to the reciprocation of the slide for elevating a platen so as to horizontally align with the knife with the moving conductor. when the slide is moving in the same direction as the conductor and for lowering the platen after the discs have been applied on the conductor and before the slide is moved in a direction opposite to that of the moving conductor.

EDWARD BERTALAN.

(References on following page) 19 REFERENCES CITED Num er The following references are of record in. the 23 2229 me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS :3 Number Name Date 2,404,782

2,045,087 Keller et a1 June 23, 1936 :20 Name Date Johnson et a1. Mar. 5, 1910 Frankwieh et a1. June 13, v1944 Bertalan Y..- V Aug. 15, 1944 Edwards Jan. 2, 1945 Berggren et a1. July 30, 194:6 

